316 CONIFEROUS FORMATIONS 



only the whispering wind ; no bird-song trills through the air. The 

 ground-vegetation differs as much as the high-forest from that in northern 

 Europe ; it consists largely of species of Cistus and Genista, xerophytic 

 genera that play so prominent a part in Mediterranean maquis ; thus the 

 ground-vegetation in these forests is a reflection of the maquis and garigues, 

 just as that of northern forests is essentially a replica of lichen-heath, 

 and dwarf -shrub heath or of fell-field. In addition to the shrubs named 

 Daphne Gnidium, Asphodelus ramosus, the fern Notochlaena Marantae, 

 and two species of the leguminosous Adenocarpus are common. At 

 greater altitudes the ground-vegetation is composed of Adenocarpus 

 viscosus and annual grasses. 



In Brazil, extending approximately from the tropic of Capricorn and 

 southwards, are nearly pure pinheiros, which are forests composed of 

 Araucaria brasiliensis. This broad-needled tree has a dark-green, pine- 

 like crown. 1 The vicinity of the tropics is suggested by the presence of 

 epiphytic Spermophyta. 



Deciduous Coniferous Forest (Larch-forest). 



Larches are the hardiest of all conifers in relation to frost, since the 

 acicular form of the foliage is combined with its deciduous nature. Larch- 

 trees give rise to forests (of Larix sibirica) round the Polar region of 

 Siberia, they endure a greater degree of dryness than the Norway spruce, 

 and can utilize a very short vegetative season, possibly because their 

 vigorously transpiring leaves can assimilate much more rapidly than can 

 those of evergreen species. Larches are therefore less dependent upon 

 the cold of winter than upon the heat of summer. In addition, to a marked 

 degree they are light-demanding trees ; consequently their forests are well- 

 lighted, and the ground is decked with numerous spermophytic herbs, 

 as well as ferns and mosses. For instance, in larch-forest (composed of 

 Larix decidua) in the Alps, one finds Arnica montana, Solidago alpestris, 

 Campanula barbata, many orchids, and so forth. On the Altai Mountains 

 larch-forest seems, indeed, to be exterminated by this mesophytic vegeta- 

 tion of herbs and grass. Here, according to Krassnoff, 2 gigantic cente- 

 narian larch-trees stand singly or in groups, far from one another in the 

 forest ; and on the old humus-soil produced by the fine needles there has 

 arisen herbage so tall and luxuriant that one can easily hide within it. 

 This herbaceous vegetation consists of species of Aconitum, Delphinium, 

 Paeonia, Clematis, and others. Each year millions of larch-seeds fall into 

 this sea of herbage, yet only a few find places where they can germinate : 

 the forest is apparently doomed to extinction. 



1 See Martius, 1840-7; Schenck, 19030. * Krassnoff, 1888. 



